Dahlia plant named &#39;G13525&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘G13525’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; black-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and semi-double type inflorescences with greyed red-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G13525’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘G13525’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous Dahlia plants that havedark-colored leaves, large attractive inflorescences and reducedsensitivity to Powdery Mildew.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in Bellefonte,Pa. in October, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilisidentified as code number 3180-5M-6, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with an unidentified proprietary selection of Dahliavariabilis, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. in July, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. sinceAugust, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘G13525’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘G13525’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

1. Compact and upright plant habit.

2. Vigorous growth habit.

3. Freely branching habit.

4. Black-colored leaves.

5. Early and freely flowering habit.

6. Semi-double type inflorescences with greyed red-colored ray florets.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the newDahlia differ primarily in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Dahlia have darker-colored leaves than plants ofthe female parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences than plants ofthe female parent selection.

3. Plants of the new Dahlia have semi-double type inflorescences whereasplants of the female parent selection have single type inflorescences.

4. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection differ inray floret color as plants of the female parent selection havered-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘MysticWonder’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,397. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Dahliadiffered primarily from plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more compact than plants of ‘MysticWonder’.

2. Plants of the new Dahlia were more freely branching than plants of‘Mystic Wonder’.

3. Plants of the new Dahlia had semi-double type inflorescences whereasplants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ had single type inflorescences.

4. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘Mystic Wonder’ differed in ray floretcolor as plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ had rich red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘HS Romeo’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,961. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Dahlia differedprimarily from plants of ‘HS Romeo’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more freely branching than plants of‘HS Romeo’.

2. Plants of the new Dahlia had semi-double type inflorescences whereasplants of ‘HS Romeo’ had single type inflorescences.

3. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘HS Romeo’ differed in ray floret coloras plants of ‘HS Romeo’ had dark red purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is aside perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G13525’ grown ina container. The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘G13525’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practicestypical of commercial potted Dahlia production. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures averaged 27° C., night temperaturesaveraged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were seven weeks old whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘G13525’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia            variabilis identified as code number 3180-5M-6, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Dahlia variabilis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at            ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 14 days at            ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three to four            weeks at ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at            temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy and fibrous;            close to white to creamy white in color, actual color of the            roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots; tuber            development has not been observed on plants of the new            Dahlia.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and upright plant form;            inverted triangle; freely branching habit with about three            to four lateral branches developing per plant, each lateral            with potentially two secondary laterals developing per node;            pinching enhances lateral branch development; inflorescences            held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 19.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:            Erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Matte. Color:            Close to 187A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 7 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Deeply three to five-lobed with parallel to divergent            sinuses.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 197B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 203A; venation,            close to 203A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to N200B; venation, close to 200A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 200A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form            with ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;            inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright to outwardly;            freely flowering habit with about ten inflorescence buds and            open inflorescences at one time.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; slightly sour.        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about five weeks after planting; plants flower            continuously from late spring through the autumn in Southern            California.        -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about five days on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Shape: Ovoid to spherical. Color: Close to 179C to            179D.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.7 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.3 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.7 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3.8 cm.            Shape: Shallow bowl-shape. Color: Close to 202A and 183A to            183B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 26 arranged            in three whorls. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Aspect: Initially upright to roughly perpendicular            to the peduncle; somewhat concave. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Longitudinally ridged, glabrous. Luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Matte, velvety. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 180C. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 179D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 179A to 179B;            color becoming closer to 171A to 171B with development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 179B to 179C; color            becoming closer to 171C to 171D with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 54. Length:            About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Tubular,            elongated; apices acute. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:            Satiny. Color, when opening: Apex: Close to 187A.            Mid-section: Close to 183B. Base: Close to 145B. Color,            fully opened: Apex: Close to 187A. Mid-section: Close to            185A. Base: Close to 147D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 40 arranged in            about four to five whorls. Inner whorls: Length: About            1.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146D. Outer whorls: Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 6 mm.            Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 187A to 187B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 183A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5.7 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Matte. Color:            Close to 202A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Present on disc florets only; ray            florets without visible reproductive organs. Androecium:            Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About 7 mm.            Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Lanceolate.            Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 22A.            Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 22A.            Gynoecium: Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About            1.9 cm. Style length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to 1A.            Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 15A. Ovary            color: Close to 146D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Dahlia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘G13525’ asillustrated and described.